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9 hrs

Cusco

2 ~ 8

Medium content

Description

Perfect for travelers looking to go off the beaten path, enjoy a beautiful and historic full-day hike with Local Guide Carlos, an ancient history aficionado, and Cusco native. Located northeast of the town of Ollantaytambo, Pumamarca is a protected set of Inca ruins that most tourists miss out on.

On this 4-hour, moderate level hike, you will enjoy stunning views of ancient Inca terraces, pass through trickling streams of water, and see local farmers at work. Appreciate the natural beauty of the Sacred Valley and transport yourself into the past as you explore this fascinating and seemingly hidden ancient Inca site.

Itinerary

Your Local Guide will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and drive you to Ollantaytambo.

The hike starts out as a gentle ascent and levels off along the way to the ruins.

As you walk, enjoy spectacular views of the mountains and Willoq Valley, and pass by local Andean homes.

You will walk over pyramid-shaped terraces left by Inca farmers and past ancient Inca water channels fed by glacial lakes.

After about 2.5 hours of hiking, you will arrive at Pumamarca. Here, you can enjoy a tasty boxed lunch, relax, and explore the ruins.

Your local guide Carlos will be there to provide you with historic insight, sharing interesting stories about the ruins.

You will then hike about 1.5 hours back to Ollantaytambo, where your van will be waiting to take you back to your hotel.

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Available days

Everyday

Eligibility criteria

This is an easy to moderate level hike with about an hour of uphill incline.

We recommend you spend two days in Cusco to adjust to the altitude prior to hiking.

What's Included

Private transport in a comfortable vehicle

Bilingual guide with over 10 years of trekking/guiding experience

Gourmet boxed lunch

A water bottle

Recommendations

Sneakers or hiking shoes are recommended.

The weather in the Valley can change very quickly, so be prepared for sun (glasses/hat/sunscreen) and rain showers (jacket/poncho).

You may want to bring additional water.

Bring a backpack/daypack as you will need to carry your boxed lunch with you.

Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions before the tour.

Tags

Good for GroupsFamily-FriendlyHighly ActiveOutdoorsy TypesDay Trip

Gallery

Carlos

Born and raised in the city Cusco, Peru, I grew up learning about traditional Andean customs, like how to speak Quechua, from my grandparents. Spending time with them taught me to cherish my culture and jumpstarted my love for ancient history. After high school, I decided to turn this passion into my career and went on to study tourism. I started out by helping lead treks on the Inca Trail. I loved being outside every day and sharing my love of history with people from all over the world. I quickly became a lead guide on the Inca Trail and even started leading other treks and tours around the area.

I’ve been guiding now for about 18 years and have led well over 500 treks in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, yet it never gets old. Join me, and I can show you the secrets and wonders of my ancestors. Let me take you off the beaten path, away from the typical tourist track, and show you what it really means to connect with nature. Through my tours, I want to take you back in time to the days of the Incan Empire. Step into my time machine and let’s explore!

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